Fitment system

ABSTRACT

A fitment system for a neck of a container may include a fitment, comprising a base portion with a top and a bottom and a threaded bore extending upward into the base portion from the bottom to a bore bottom configured for sealingly engaging a top of the container neck, a nozzle portion extending from the base portion to a tip and configured for controlling the outflow of content from the container without imparting torsional forces on the fitment, and a support portion extending from the base portion to a distal end arranged at or beyond the tip, the support portion being configured for supporting the container in an inverted position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/876,938 entitled Gravity Bottle Cap, filed on Sep.12, 2013, the content of which is hereby incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to container fitments. Moreparticularly, a system of caps, covers, fitments, or other devices areprovided that are adaptable for varying sized container necks andstyles, and for controlling the outflow of contents of a container.Still more particularly the system may be configured for supportingand/or balancing a container above the fitment such as in an invertedorientation.

BACKGROUND

Flowable products packaged in containers work well when the container isrelatively full. Generally, these containers are configured to stand upon the bottom side, with the container cap or pump facing upward. Inthis basic storage configuration, gravity causes the flowable productwithin the container to settle in the bottom of the container. A usermay typically attempt to invert the container in order to cause theflowable product therein to flow toward the container cap and urge thedesired amount of flowable product out of the container cap for use.

As the amount of flowable product diminishes within the container, itbecomes more and more difficult, taking longer periods of time, toobtain a desired amount of flowable product from the container throughthe container cap or pump, which are commonly prone to prematurefailure, thus, leaving product stranded in the bottom of the container.Some containers have been designed to rest in an inverted position,i.e., container cap side down, in order to force the flowable productagainst the container cap through gravitational force. This allows theuser to simply pick up the container and immediately dispense theflowable product therein without having to wait for the flowable productto flow down the sides of the container toward the container cap.

However, most known containers do not have the ability to be stored inthis inverted position. In addition, inverting the current range ofcontainer sizes, with varying container neck sizes and varying cap/pumpconfigurations, is not possible given the current state of the art.Applicant is unaware of any device or system that will accommodate thevariety of container neck sizes and styles in order to provide a stableinversion of the container.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a fitment system for a neck of a container mayinclude a fitment. The fitment may include a base portion with a top anda bottom and a threaded bore extending upward into the base portion fromthe bottom to a bore bottom configured for sealingly engaging a top ofthe container neck. The fitment may also include a nozzle portionextending from the base portion to a tip and configured for controllingthe outflow of content from the container without imparting torsionalforces on the fitment. The fitment may also include a support portionextending from the base portion to a distal end arranged at or beyondthe tip, the support portion being configured for supporting thecontainer in an inverted position. In some embodiments, the fitmentsystem may also include an adaptor configured for reducing or enlargingthe diameter of the fitment for use with containers having smaller orlarger container necks.

A device and system and method for allowing stable inversion ofvirtually any necked flexibly resilient container with flowable producttherein for purposes of facilitating quick and full release of theflowable product through the container cap when desired. An adaptorsystem allows for varying sizes of container necks and styles to beaccommodated by the present invention. The present invention allows forstable inverted storage of the container with flowable product therein,staging the flowable product against the container cap for quick releasewhen the user desires.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fitment, according to someembodiments.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the fitment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the fitment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the fitment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the fitment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the fitment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the fitment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the fitment of FIG. 1 with the capremoved.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the fitment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the fitment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the fitment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the fitment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of the fitment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a cap of the fitment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the cap of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the cap of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a top view of the cap of FIG. 14.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the cap of FIG. 14.

FIG. 19 is a side cross-sectional view of the cap of FIG. 14.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a seal of the fitment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 21 is a top/bottom view of the seal of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a side view of the seal of FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a side cross-sectional view of the seal of FIG. 20.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the fitment of FIG. 1 together with andadaptor.

FIG. 25 is an exploded view of the fitment and adaptor of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a side view of the fitment and adaptor of FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 is a bottom view of the fitment and adaptor of FIG. 24.

FIG. 28 is a side view of the fitment and adaptor of FIG. 24.

FIG. 29 is a top view of the fitment and adaptor of FIG. 24.

FIG. 30 is a side cross-sectional view of the fitment and adaptor ofFIG. 24.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the adaptor of FIG. 24.

FIG. 32 is a side view of the adaptor of FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 is a bottom view of the adaptor of FIG. 31.

FIG. 34 is a side view of the adaptor of FIG. 31.

FIG. 35 is a top view of the adaptor of FIG. 31.

FIG. 36 is a side cross-sectional view of the adaptor of FIG. 31.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a seal of the fitment and adaptor ofFIG. 24.

FIG. 38 is a top/bottom view of the seal of FIG. 37.

FIG. 39 is a side view of the seal of FIG. 37.

FIG. 40 is a side cross-sectional view of the seal of FIG. 37.

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a fitment similarto that of FIG. 1 and having an adaptor.

FIG. 42 is an exploded view of the fitment and adaptor of FIG. 41.

FIG. 43 is a side view of the fitment and adaptor of FIG. 41.

FIG. 44 is a bottom view of the fitment and adaptor of FIG. 41.

FIG. 45 is a side view of the fitment and adaptor of FIG. 41.

FIG. 46 is a top view of the fitment and adaptor of FIG. 41.

FIG. 47 is a side cross-sectional view of the fitment and adaptor ofFIG. 41.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present application, in one or more embodiments, discusses a fitmentsystem usable to invert a flexibly resilient container to simplifyaccess to the trailing contents of the container and adaptable for usewith containers having different neck diameters and styles. For example,the system may include a fitment adapted for use with a relatively largecontainer neck. This fitment may be substantially cup-shaped with aninternal diameter sized to receive the large container neck and havinginternal threads for threading onto the container neck. This relativelylarge fitment may include a system of struts or braces radiating from itsuch that, when the fitment is secured to the container neck, thefitment may stably support the respective container in an invertedposition. The system may also include a series of adaptors or inserts.The adaptors or inserts may be used to downsize the internal threaddiameter of the fitment such that container necks with smaller diametersmay be accommodated. A series of inserts may be provided where each isadapted to downsize the large fitment to one of several different sizes.For example, the adaptors may thread within the fitment and may have athreaded inner bore with a diameter adapted for a smaller sizedcontainer neck.

The system may be advantageous for accessing the trailing contents of acontainer. Also, the system may be advantageous for use with containersnot amenable to standing upright in any orientation. For example somesoft-side containers for content such as toothpaste, ointments, creams,and other content may typically be placed in a medicine cabinet or on ashelf in a lying position. The present system may be used to allow thesecontainers to be placed in an upright position allowing such containersto be more easily organized and maintained, while in some casesdepending on the viscosity and other properties of the contents, alsohelping to move the contents toward the outlet of the container. In somecases, the system may be provided by the product manufacturer togetherwith the product and in other cases, the system may be purchased by aconsumer and used to replace the caps that are provided on the products.In either case, the system may be removable and reusable with multiplebottles or product containers throughout its life.

As shown in FIGS. 1-23, a fitment 100 in the form of a container cap isshown. The fitment 100 may be configured for securing to a threaded orother type of neck of a bottle or other container and for supporting thebottle or container in an inverted position. The fitment 100 may alsoallow the contents of the container to be selectively or controllablydelivered from the container by actuation of a nozzle, for example. Asshown in FIG. 1, the fitment 100 may include a base portion 102, anozzle portion 104, and a support portion 106, each of which aredescribed in more detail below.

As shown in FIGS. 3-13, the base portion 102 may be configured forsecuring to a neck of a bottle or container. The base portion 102 mayhave a top 108 and a bottom 110. The base portion 102 may include a bore112 extending upward from the bottom 110 into the base portion 102. Thebore 112 may extend into the base portion 102 to a bore bottom 114defining the depth of the bore 116 measured from the bottom 110 of thebase portion 102 to the bore bottom 114. The bore 116 may besubstantially cylindrically shaped defining a cylindrical bore wallhaving a bore diameter 118. The internal wall of the bore 116 mayinclude threads arranged thereon and adapted to engage threads on acontainer neck, for example. In some embodiments, the diameter 118 ofthe bore 116 may range from approximately 20 mm to approximately 50 mmor from approximately 30 mm to approximately 40 mm or a diameter ofapproximately 38 mm or, more precisely, 38.2 mm may be provided. Stillother diameters 118 may be provided and adapted for matching and/oraccommodating a particular neck size or diameter.

In other embodiments, the base portion 102 may be adapted for asnap-type engagement with a container neck and may include acylindrically extending rib or recess adapted to engage a cylindricallyextending recess or rib on a container neck. It is to be appreciatedthat a rib on the inside surface of the bore 112 may snap over a rib ona container neck or a rib on the inside surface of the bore 112 mayengage a recess on a container neck. In other embodiments, a rib on acontainer neck may engage a recess on the inside surface of the bore112. Still other snapping engagements including multiple ribs and/orrecesses may be provided.

The bore bottom 114 may be adapted to seat tightly against the upperannular surface of the container neck to create a seal to resist leakageof contents from the container into and along the bore 112. In someembodiments, for example, the bore bottom 114 may be a substantiallyannularly shaped surface arranged substantially perpendicular to thebore wall. Still further, in some embodiments, a gasket 113 such as theannular piece of resilient material shown in FIGS. 20-23 may be providedon the bore bottom 114 to increase the ability of the base portion 102to seal against the upper annular surface of the container neck. Inaddition, the bore depth 116 may be selected such that it issufficiently large to allow the threads arranged thereon to securelyengage those of the container neck. However, the bore depth 116 may alsobe selected to be sufficiently short such that the bottom 110 of thebore 112 is drawn into a sealing seated engagement with the upperannular surface of the container prior to the bottom 110 of the baseportion 102 engaging a shoulder of the container near the base of thecontainer neck. In some embodiments, for example, the bore depth 116 maybe selected to range from approximately 5 mm to approximately 30 mm, orfrom approximately 8 mm to approximately 12 mm or approximately 10 mm.For example, in some embodiments, thread finishes of approximately 400,or approximately 410, or approximately 415, as described/defined by theGlass Packaging Institute, may be provided and/or accommodated. Stillother thread finishes may be provided. It is to be appreciated that thegasket may “take-up” some of the bore depth 116 and, as such, the boredepth 116 may be adjusted (i.e., increased or decreased) to accommodatethe gasket thickness such that the overall depth 116 of the bore 112 maybe equal to a working depth approximating the mentioned bore depthdimensions plus a gasket thickness.

The outer portion of the base 102 may also be substantially cylindricalwith an outer diameter and establishing a wall thickness equal to theouter portion diameter less the bore diameter 118 and accounting for twowalls on each side of the base portion 102. In some embodiments, theouter diameter of the base may range from approximately 30 mm toapproximately 50 mm or from approximately 35 mm to approximately 45 mmor a diameter of approximately 41 mm may be provided. In otherembodiments, the outer portion of the base portion 102 may besubstantially square, triangular, octagonal, hexagonal, or other shapesmay be provided. In some embodiments, the outer portion of the baseportion 102 may be shaped to support and/or accommodate particularaspects of the support portion 106 described below. For example, wherefour support braces are provided, a square outer portion may be providedallowing for each brace to extend from a corner of the base portion 102,for example. Still other shapes and sizes of the outer portion may beprovided. The base portion 102 may have a height greater than the boredepth 116 defining a thickness of the top portion 108 of the baseportion 102. The top portion 108 of the base 102 may be flat or, asshown, it may be conically shaped to accommodate the nozzle portion 104described below.

In some embodiments, the base portion may be adapted for child-resistantattachment to the resilient container or bottle. For example, in someembodiments, a stop or catch may be provided on the base that is adaptedto engage a top portion of a bottle or resilient container. For example,some bottles or resilient containers may include tabs or stops to engagecorresponding tabs or stops on the inside of the cap. In order to removethe cap, the cap may be deformable such that when squeezed, the tabs onthe inside of the cap clear those on the bottle allowing the cap to turnand/or unscrew. The base portion 102 may include same or similar tabsadapted to engage these tabs on the bottle. Still other types ofchild-resistant mechanisms may also be provided. In addition, otheraspects of the system may be made to be child-resistant such as the capdiscussed in more detail below.

The nozzle portion 104 may be arranged at or near the top 108 of thebase portion 102 and may be configured for selectively receiving,passing through and/or controlling the outflow of the contents of abottle or container. The nozzle portion 104 may extend abruptly throughthe bore bottom 114 as shown including a central throat 126. In otheralternative embodiments, the nozzle portion 104 may include a recessedmouth area in the bottom 114 of the bore 112 that is adapted to receiveand funnel the contents toward a center of the base portion 102. Therecessed mouth, for example, may be inset into the bottom 114 of thebore 112 at a circular edge defining an inner edge of the annular seatsurface at the bottom 114 of the bore 112. From this circular edge, therecessed mouth may extend radially inward with a conical surface to thecentral throat 126. In either or other embodiments, the central throat126 may extend through the base portion 102 forming an opening throughwhich the contents of the container may flow out of the fitment 100. Thethroat 126 may be formed by a cylindrical throat wall or a throat 126with a different cross-sectional shape, such as square, triangular,round, or another shape may be provided. The cylindrical throat wall maybe formed by the top portion 108 of the base portion 102 as the throat126 extends through the top portion 108 and the cylindrical throat wallmay extend above the top 108 of the base portion 102 forming acylindrical pedestal 132 above the top portion 108. In some embodiments,the base may have a height from the bottom 110 of the base 102 to apoint where the cylindrical pedestal extends upward may range fromapproximately 10 to 20 mm or from approximately 12 to 17 mm the heightmay be approximately 15 mm. In some embodiments, the internal throatdiameter may range from approximately 10 to 20 mm or from approximately12 to 17 mm or the internal throat diameter may be approximately 15 mm.

In some embodiments, a nozzle plug 128 may be provided for a push pulltop to be provided. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9, 11, and 13, aplurality of braces 130 may extend inward from the throat wall tosupport a plug 128 extending longitudinally along the throat 126. Theplug 128 may extend upward through the throat 126 and may protrudeslightly out the top 108 of the throat 126 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12.This plug 128 may seal a center hole on a push/pull top 133 such as theone shown in FIGS. 14-19 and/or similar to that found on a common waterbottle, for example. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the plug 128 mayextend beyond the end of the cylindrical pedestal 132 by a distanceapproximating the thickness of a flanged portion of a push/pull top 133thereby allowing for a flush finish when such a push/pull top 133 is inthe closed position. It is to be appreciated that one of many types ofopen and closing devices may be used together with the nozzle portion104. In some embodiments, a push/pull top 133 may be provided asdescribed. In other embodiments, a flip top may be provided or a disctop or a membrane top may be provided. In still other embodiments, aslide top or a friction cap may be provided. The particular listedoptions for a top may be unique in that they avoid imposing torsionalforces (i.e., torsion free tops) on the threads of the fitment 100 whenthey are actuated. That is, for example, where a twist-type top is used,opening the top may impose loosening torque on the fitment 100, whichmay be particularly problematic when the top is stuck, for example,because higher loosening torque may be applied by the user to free thetop thereby having a tendency to loosen the fitment 100. If thisloosening disrupts the communication between the container neck and thefitment, an unrealized leaking condition may then develop. It is also tobe appreciated that the top described may be unique by being actuatableapart from and relative to the support portion 106, which is to say thatthe top may be actuated without rotating or otherwise engaging orinvolving the support portion 106.

The support portion 106 may be configured to support and/or balance thecontainer when the fitment 100 is secured to a container. As shown inFIGS. 1-13, the support portion 106 may extend upwardly from the topportion 108 of the base 102. The support portion 106 may extend upwardfrom the base 102 sufficiently to be at least flush with the top of thenozzle portion 104 (i.e., top of imbalance features 135 of cap describedbelow) when the top is in a closed position. As such, the supportportion 106 may be effective to isolate the nozzle portion 104 from aload bearing condition such that the weight of the bottle is carried bythe support portion 106 and the weight of the container and/or contentsmay not induce load to pass through the nozzle portion 104.

In some embodiments, the support portion 106 may be particularly sizedand adapted to extend upward from the base 102 such that the supportportion 106 stops short of the nozzle portion 104 when the top is in anopen condition, but extends beyond the nozzle portion 104 when the topis in a closed position. This approach may be advantageous to indicateto the user that the fitment 100 is open when a user attempts to placethe container on the fitment 100 in the open condition. In someembodiments, if the nozzle portion 104 is open when the user attempts toplace the container in an inverted position, the nozzle portion 104 maynaturally close as the user sets the container on a surface, therebypreventing leaks or unwanted spills when inverting the container. Inother embodiments, where the nozzle is more resistant to closing, theposition of the nozzle portion 104 relative to the support portion maycause the container to be unstable if a user attempts to place it in aninverted position with the nozzle open because the support portion 106stops short of the open nozzle portion 104. For example, as shown inFIGS. 14-19, a cap 133 with a pair of imbalance features 135 may beprovided. The imbalance features 135 may help to avoid balancing of thecontainer on the nozzle portion 104 alone, but instead may inducetipping. This may cause the user to perceive an unstable conditionencouraging the user to press down on the container to close the cap 133and engage the support portion 106 of the device. In the embodimentshown, the imbalance features 135 may include a double-radiused edgefollowing the contour of the cap 133 when viewed from above as in FIG.17 and following a similar radius as the feature rises from the top ofthe cap 133 and returns to the top of the cap as shown in FIGS. 16 and19. In other embodiments, other geometries for the imbalance feature 135may also be provided. For example, pin like protrusions, bulbs, prongs,beads, posts, or other surface elevated structures may be provided tocreate instability when the container is placed on the cap. In otherembodiments the surface of the cap may be radiused or otherwise shapedto avoid a flat balanceable surface.

In some embodiments, the support portion 106 may be approximately 20 to40 mm high from the bottom of the base to the top of the support portionor approximately 25 to 35 mm or approximately 33 mm of height may beprovided. In some embodiments, the nozzle portion may range fromapproximately 20 mm to 40 mm high from the bottom of the base to the topof the nozzle portion or approximately 25 to 35 mm or a height ofapproximately 30 mm may be provided when the cap is in a closedposition. In some embodiments, the cap of the nozzle portion may have adiameter ranging from approximately 15 to 45 mm or approximately 25 to35 mm or approximately 30 mm.

As shown, the support portion 106 may include a plurality of struts 134secured to the base portion 102 and extending upwardly therefrom. Insome embodiments, the struts 134 may extend from the top portion 108 ofthe base 102. However, in other embodiments, as shown, the struts 134may extend from the sidewall of the base portion 102. Depending on thesize of the outer portion of the base 102 of the fitment 100, the struts134 may also extend outwardly in an effort to establish a wider stanceand provide for a more stable condition when supporting a bottle orcontainer. In extending upwardly and outwardly, the struts 134 maydefine a substantially conical, pyramidal, or other divergent shape. Itis to be appreciated that, as shown, three struts 134 may be provided.However, a number larger than three may also be provided and, in someembodiments, where, for example, the struts 134 include a relativelysubstantial width across the base portion (e.g., segments of a cone),two struts 134 may be provided. In still other embodiments, a singlecone-shaped strut 134 that extends the full radial circumference aroundthe fitment 100 may be provided. Still other geometries of struts 134may be provided such that three-dimensional balancing support may beprovided to the attached bottle or container. In some embodiments, thestruts 134 may extend to a distal end and the ends together may fall ona diameter ranging from approximately 20 mm to approximately 200 mm orfrom approximately 50 mm to approximately 150 mm or a diameter ofapproximately 78 mm or 81 mm may be provided. As shown, the struts 134may be substantially channel-shaped and the distal end may, thus, beu-shaped like the cross-sectional shape of the channel. In otherembodiments, the distal ends may be terminated with a flat surface, arounded surface, pointed surface, or other shape. In some embodiments,the rounded surface on the distal end may be advantageous in workingwith the imbalancing features to avoid a balanced condition when the capor other flow controlling feature of the fitment is in the openposition.

The struts 134 may extend upward to a distal end 136. The several distalends 136 of the struts 134 may define a support plane. In someembodiments, the several distal 136 ends may define a plane that issubstantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 138 (see FIG. 2) ofthe fitment 100 and/or the container. That is, for example, the bore 112of the fitment 100 and the nozzle portion 104 may share a centrallongitudinal axis 138 that may be in line with a longitudinal axis ofthe container neck. The plane of the several distal ends 136 of thestruts 134 or other support portion elements may define a plane that issubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 138. In addition,the distal ends 136 of the struts 134 may include an etched surface or asticky or gripping surface or a pad may be provided to resist lateralmotion of the bottle or container across a surface, for example.

Referring in more detail to FIGS. 14-19, a cap 133 for controlling theflow of material from the nozzle portion 104 is shown. In thisembodiment a cap 133 having an outer cylindrical wall 137 and an innercylindrical wall 139 is shown. The outer wall is sized and shaped toreceive the pedestal 132 of the nozzle portion 104 therewithin and theinner cylindrical wall 139 is sized and shaped to fit within thepedestal 132 of the nozzle portion 132. A top 141 is provided across thetop of both of the outer and inner cylindrical walls 137, 139 forsealingly engaging the top annular surface of the pedestal 132. The top141 may include a hole in the center for allowing content from thecontainer to flow through and/or to engage the plug 128 on the nozzleportion 104 when the cap 133 is closed. In addition, the cap 133 mayinclude the imbalance features 135 described above. The outercylindrical wall 137 of the cap 133 may also include one or more windows143 or access openings for seeing, flushing, and/or otherwise cleaningbetween the outer cylindrical wall 137 of the cap 133 and the pedestal132 if content or debris were to become trapped in this area.

In some embodiments, in addition to the base portion 102 havingchild-resistant features, the cap 133 may also have such features. Forexample, the cap 133 may be secured to the nozzle 104 with protrusionsfrom the nozzle 104 which push through the nozzle 104 and are depressedin order for the cap 133 to pull open. In some embodiments, theprotrusions may be spring loaded or otherwise resilient so as to snapinto position when the cap 133 is closed. In other embodiments, a clipmay extend across the cap 133 holding the cap 133 closed unless anduntil the clip is removed or deformed out of the way. In someembodiments, the clip may require some force to be removed or deformed.Still other features or mechanisms may be provided to create achild-resistant cap. In some embodiments, the child-resistant featuremay be provided and may be actuatable by the user without impartingtorsion on the cap or the fitment as a whole, which may tend to loosenthe fitment's engagement with the resilient container.

It is to be appreciated that the described fitment 100 may be used witha suitable container without the adaptors 140 described below. That is,where the diameter of the bore 112 of the fitment 100 matches that of abottle or container, the fitment 100 may be used with such a bottle orcontainer and without the below adaptors 140. However, where a bottle orcontainer includes a container neck diameter smaller than the diameterof the bore 112 of the fitment 100, an adaptor 140 may be provided toreduce the inner diameter of the bore 112 of the fitment 100 to adiameter matching that of the container. In other embodiments, one ormore fitments 100 having different diameters may be provided toaccommodate a wide range of container neck sizes.

As shown in FIGS. 24-25, the fitment 100 of FIGS. 1-23 is shown with anadaptor 140. Several views of the fitment 100 with the adaptor 140 areshown in FIGS. 26-30. In FIGS. 31-36, the adaptor 140 is shown. Theadaptor 140 may be configured to threadably and sealingly engage thebore 112 of the fitment 100 and, as such, the adaptor 140 may include acylindrical and threaded outer surface with a diameter substantiallymatching that of the inner diameter of the bore 112. The adaptor 140 mayinclude a bottom 142 and a top 144, where the top 144 of the adaptor 140is configured for sealingly engaging the bore bottom 114 of the fitment100. In some embodiments, the annular gasket, washer, or seal 113 of thefitment 100 may be provided to aid in sealingly engaging the fitment 100with the top 144 of the adaptor 140. Like the fitment 100, the adaptor140 may include a threaded bore 146 with a diameter 147 extending intothe adaptor 140 from the bottom 142 of the adaptor 140 to a bore bottom148 defining an adaptor bore depth 150 where the bore bottom 148 isadapted to be sealingly engaged by the top annular surface of the bottleor container. Like the fitment 100, an annular gasket, washer, or seal145, as shown in FIGS. 37-40 may be provided to assist in sealing thetop of the container to the bore bottom 148 of the adaptor 140. Also,like the fitment 100, the bore depth 150 and/or working depth (i.e.,bore depth less gasket thickness) may be selected to suitably engage thecontainer neck without encountering the shoulder on a container and thesame or similar working depths and/or bore depths as described withrespect to the fitment 100 may be provided.

The adaptor 140 may also include an outward extending flange 152 at itsbottom end 142 where the flange 152 has an inner diameter substantiallyequal to the bore diameter 147 and the flange 152 has an outer diametersubstantially equal to the outer diameter of the fitment 100. In someembodiments, the outer peripheral edge of the flange 152 may include aknurled, textured, toothed, or otherwise roughened surface allowing auser to grip the adaptor 140 relative to the fitment 100 to tightenand/or loosen the adaptor 140 in the fitment 100.

It is to be appreciated, and with reference to FIGS. 30 and 36, that theadaptor 140 may have a height measured from bottom 142 to top 144 equalto the bore depth 116 of the fitment 100 plus a gap dimension 149between the bottom of the fitment 100 and the flange 152 plus thethickness of the flange 152 of the adaptor. In some embodiments, the gap149 may range from approximately 0 mm (i.e., no gap) to approximately 10mm or from approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 1.5 mm or a gap ofapproximately 1 mm may be provided. Still other gap dimensions inside oroutside the ranges mentioned may be provided. In some embodiments, thethickness of the flange 152 may range from approximately 1 mm toapproximately 10 mm or from approximately 2 mm to approximately 5 mm orapproximately 3.5 mm. Still other flange thicknesses inside or outsidethe thicknesses mentioned may be provided. In addition, the thickness ofthe top portion 144 of the adaptor 140 beyond the bore depth 150 of theadaptor 140 may be substantially equal to or similar to the flangethickness such that the bore depth 150 of the adaptor 140 may besubstantially equal to the bore depth 116 of the fitment 100 allowingfor the same advantages of avoiding encountering the shoulder of acontainer neck before a fully seated connection is established, forexample. Moreover, as the adaptor 140 is threaded into the fitment 100,the top 144 of the adaptor may engage the sealing gasket or bore bottomof the fitment 100 and the gap dimension 149 may help to avoid prematureengagement of the flange 152 with the bottom of the fitment 100 before aseated condition of the adaptor is achieved. In other embodiments, wherethe gap 149 is not provided, the top of the adaptor may become seated inthe bore bottom of the fitment simultaneously with the engagement of theflange 152 with the bottom of the fitment.

The adaptor 140 may also include an opening 154 in the top portion 144of the adaptor 140 for passing through of content from the bottle orcontainer. The opening 154 may have a diameter equal to or slightlylarger than the throat diameter of the fitment 100 so as to avoidfurther restricting the flow of content through the throat 126. In otherembodiments, the opening diameter may be smaller than the throatdiameter.

It is to be appreciated that an adaptor simply including an outerthreaded surface and a smaller diameter inner threaded surface may beprovided. That is, such an adaptor may not have a bore bottom, butinstead may have a bore extending all the way through the adaptor andthe adaptor may not include the flange. However, such an adaptor may bedifficult and messy to remove from the fitment 100 because a user mayneed to access the inside of the adaptor to cause it to unscrew from thefitment 100. Still further, if a flange is provided for purposes ofinserting and removing the adaptor (i.e., but still without a borebottom), the bore depth from the bottom of the adaptor to the sealingsurface increases and may cause the bottom of the system to encounter ashoulder on a container neck before the bore bottom of the fitment 100seatingly engages the top annular surface of a container neck.Accordingly, the adaptor 140 having a top 144 and a flange 152 may beadvantageous due to its ability to be easily removed while not adding tothe working depth of the bore.

Additional adaptors that are the same or similar to the adaptor 140 maybe provided where the adaptor bore diameter is different to accommodatesmaller diameter container necks, for example. The inner diameter ofeach adaptor may be sized and shaped in complementary fashion to allowthreaded engagement with threaded container necks that are smaller thanthe fitment's bore diameter 118. In some systems, three adaptors withsuccessively smaller inner diameters may be provided. For example, afirst adaptor with inner diameter which is less than the inner diameter118 of the fitment may be provided. In addition, a second adaptor withand inner diameter which is less than inner diameter 118 and the innerdiameter of the first adaptor may also be provided. Still further, athird adaptor with an inner diameter which is less than the innerdiameter 118 and the inner diameters of the first and second adaptorsmay also be provided. In some embodiments, for example, based on plasticcontainer standards, the several inner diameters of the adaptors mayinclude 33 mm, 28 mm, and 24 mm, (or more particularly 33.2 mm, 28.2 mm,and 24.3 mm) while the fitment inner diameter 118 may be 38 mm (or moreparticularly 38.2 mm) Additional adaptors may be provided.

Some examples are listed below for various adaptor sizings:

The fitment inner diameter 118 may be approximately 38 mm and may besuitable to accommodate, e.g., a gallon container such as car wash soapor creamy salad dressing;

The first adaptor inner diameter may be approximately 33 mm and may besuitable to accommodate a typical container of honey or barbeque sauce;

The second adaptor inner diameter may be 28 mm and may be suitable toaccommodate typical containers of shampoo, conditioner, body lotion andthe like. This dimension may be most common in the marketplace;

The third adaptor inner diameter may be approximately 24 mm and may besuitable to accommodate smaller containers of lotion and the like.

The number of adaptors illustrated and described, as well as thedimensions of same are examples and nothing should be construed aslimiting the sizes of the fitment or the adaptors to the sizes shown.Additional adaptors may be provided with differing dimensions, i.e.,inner diameters and overall lengths (or working depths) than described.Each of these variations are well within the scope of the presentinvention.

For example, an adaptor with a 32 mm bore diameter may be provided for aparticular container type such as, for example, a Hershey's® syrupbottle. In other embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 41-47, an adaptor 240with, for example, a 35.2 mm bore diameter may be provided. Thisembodiment may also include a working depth greater than 10 mm. Stillother embodiments with other dimensions and/or sizes may be provided andremain within the scope of the present disclosure. It is to beappreciated that while the fitment of FIGS. 41-47 may be slightlydifferent (i.e., no imbalance features on the cap), the adaptor shown inthese figures may be provided with such a fitment or with the fitmentshown in the earlier figures. Still further, the earlier describedadaptors may be provided with the type of fitment shown in the presentFIGS. 41-47. It is to be appreciated that the permissive “may” used inthe present application is intended to allow the fitment and/or theadaptors to include one or more of the described features and thefigures should not be construed to require any feature.

An alternative to the above configuration may comprise the variousadaptors being nestable, with the base cap serving to threadingly engagethe largest inner diameter adaptor and wherein that adaptor is capableof threaded engagement of the next smallest inner diameter adaptor andso on. In this configuration, the outer diameters of the adaptors maybecome successively smaller, matching or complementary with the innerdiameter of the element with which the threaded outer wall of theadaptor is threadingly engaged. This threaded nesting engagement may becontinued until the proper inner diameter size of the adaptor is reachedin order to accommodate the particular container neck size of interest.

It is to be appreciated that while the adaptors described herein havebeen for purposes of reducing the inner diameter of the bore of thefitment 100, adaptors that allow for placement of the fitment 100 onlarger containers may also be provided. For example, an adaptor having afirst portion for threadably engaging the bore of the fitment may beprovided and a second portion extending out the bottom the fitment andhaving a belled or otherwise enlarged shape may be provided with a borelarger than the fitment bore. In other embodiments, the fitment may beprovided with threads on an outer surface for purposes of securing anenlarging adaptor. In this embodiment, the enlarging adaptor may includea first bore having a diameter similar to the outside diameter of thefitment allowing it to be threaded onto the fitment and a second borelarger than the first may also be provided for threadably engaging acontainer neck. Still other systems for adapting the fitment for usewith larger container necks may be provided.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference tovarious embodiments, including preferred embodiments, it will beunderstood that these embodiments are illustrative and that the scope ofthe disclosure is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications,additions, and improvements are possible. More generally, embodiments inaccordance with the present disclosure have been described in thecontext of particular embodiments. Functionality may be separated orcombined in blocks differently in various embodiments of the disclosureor described with different terminology. These and other variations,modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope ofthe disclosure as defined in the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fitment system for a neck of a container,comprising: a fitment, comprising: a base portion with a top and abottom and a threaded bore extending upward into the base portion fromthe bottom to a bore bottom configured for sealingly engaging a top ofthe container neck; a nozzle portion extending from the base portion toa tip and configured for controlling the outflow of content from thecontainer without imparting torsional forces on the fitment; and asupport portion extending from the base portion to a distal end arrangedat or beyond the tip, the support portion being configured forsupporting the container in an inverted position.
 2. The fitment systemof claim 1, wherein the bore comprises a working depth of approximately10 mm.
 3. The fitment system of claim 1, wherein the fitment includes asealing gasket arranged at the bore bottom.
 4. The fitment system ofclaim 1, wherein the nozzle portion includes a top configured to openand close without imparting torsional force on the fitment.
 5. Thefitment system of claim 4, wherein the nozzle portion includes a throatextending through the bore bottom.
 6. The fitment of claim 5, whereinthe nozzle portion includes a plug suspended in the throat.
 7. Thefitment of claim 6, wherein the top is a push/pull top configured to beopened by pulling on the top and configured to be closed by pushing onthe top and engaging the plug.
 8. The fitment of claim 1, wherein thesupport portion includes a strut extending upward from the base portion.9. The fitment of claim 8, wherein the strut extends radially outward inaddition to extending upward.
 10. The fitment of claim 8, wherein thestrut comprises a plurality of struts.
 11. The fitment of claim 10,wherein the plurality of struts comprises three struts.
 12. The fitmentof claim 11, wherein the plurality of struts comprises a rounded surfaceat the distal end.
 13. The fitment system of claim 1, further comprisingan adaptor configured to reduce the bore diameter of the fitment. 14.The fitment system of claim 13, wherein the threaded bore has acylindrical bore wall with a diameter and the adaptor includes an outerdiameter configured for threadingly engaging the bore wall.
 15. Thefitment system of claim 14, wherein the adaptor includes a threaded boreextending upward into the adaptor from the bottom to a bore bottomconfigured for sealingly engaging a top of the container neck.
 16. Thefitment system of claim 15, wherein the working depth of the adaptor isapproximately 10 mm.
 17. The fitment system of claim 15, wherein theadaptor includes a flange at a bottom end thereof.
 18. The fitmentsystem of claim 17, wherein the flange comprises a roughened peripheralsurface for gripping the adaptor when inserting and removing the adaptorfrom the fitment.
 19. The fitment system of claim 18, wherein theadaptor includes an opening in a top end thereof for allowing contentsfrom the container to pass therethrough.
 20. The fitment system of claim1, wherein the nozzle portion includes an imbalance feature.